Would you please put Wesleys name on the one bigger picture, promised him I would never make it public without his name on it. I sent two different pictures, the one is a movie actress, even was in Movies with James cagney. The other Lady was a professional model. Thought the club might enjoy identifying the plane, if possible. The DB Aston Martin was Wacky Arnolt's car, arnolt bristols, mg's and more. Grancor was another friend of Bens, Granatelli. What is the airplane in the background?

These are John's questions based on this material:

Who was Dallas Spear?

What is the experimental plane in the background of the pictures?

Was the seat belt, which dates from 1933-1935, from an airplane?

The next two photos are "property of Wesley Phillippi":

I believe this is a correct seat belt from an airplane, era, 1932-1936 Seat belts were one of the 15 new inovations Ben incorporated into his futuristic exotic supercar. I have another set, which are quite different, but I believe these to be correct? Please post, maybe it will be verified.

Along the way of expert advise; who was Dallas Spear? Thought you might enjoy a walk through automobile history. Ben was an astounding man. He was an infant builder of the national SCCA too. James Kiimberly, Wacky Arnolt and Ben.

Andrew,Why would it have a "42 M " on the back?I wished that I could help more, but these are the only two pictures I have.

Era was 1952-1953 max.So the plane was earlier, be my guess ?Ben was an experienced pilot, and flew to Florida and the Bahamas' often, maybe that helps ??I am pretty sure that he flew to Cuba to host SCCA racing before Castrol over through the president. He did host the races, and I am assuming that he flew there?All other info provided has no assumption, all documented fact.

Maybe of help; Ben owned two airports, was in Navy research and invention during WW II with Edwin Land, POLOROID,, built tanks and ornament in a plant by Chicago also. Experimental stuff guys !!!

He was very good friends with Ed Cole, which perished in a plane crash, GM President, and also was very good friends with Lance Reventlow, which also perished in a plane crash.

I know that he also ran with Zora, Corvette guy at GM, >> Jim Kimberly of Kimberly and Clark, Phil Hill, most flew planes also.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>In one of the many obits on Ben >> who was DALLAS SPEAR? Thoughts?And I am pretty sure that you guys have knowledge of seat belts in early planes>> is that seat belt correct era from an airplane<< as everybody knows cars did not have seat belts then,

Fire any questions at me that you may have.Just trying to finish up History work on the entire story.Thanks in advance,John

The shape and guy wires look right, though the lettering is different.

#77 Beville-Raymond “Little Spook” N42M (light gray)

"The Steve Beville-Bruce Raymond team had great success with their Thompson Class #77 'Galloping Ghost', and so Beville tried his hand at a miniature, fabric-covered version for the 190 Cu. In. Class. In the 1949 Goodyear Trophy Race, he qualified 19th at 143.384 mph and finished 7th in the Consolation Race at 130.760 mph. The following January, at Miami for the All-American Air Maneuvers, Steve qualified 16th at 156.182mph, and placed 5th in the Consolation Race at 147.683mph."

"For the first time sabotage darkened the Cleveland Air Races when a disgruntled pilot ripped a piece of fabric from the wing of Steve Beville's racer "Little Spook". The intoxicated pilot who was a competitor in last years race mistook Steve Beville's racer "Little Spook" for "Little Rebel." Both planes are similar in size and in appearance."

Nothing like a disgruntled intoxicated pissed off pilot from last year....

I truly wished that I had better pics, but alas, after several decades, these are the only two with the airplane.

Look at the one with Ben and the model, a person can make out " Little " on the side of the plane.Little what>> hopefully the club may turn up more.Neat that experimental planes are archived, really not that many documented>> are there?

BTW, please remember that Ben was all about racing, and we have tons of documents which should get him inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame, He truly was one of the infant builders of the National SCCA.POINT; the experimental plane>> what was he doing, a racing plane ?

Andrew,The lady is a movie actress which was under contract with MGM in Hollywood.The 4 foot tall trophy was awarded to Bens 1935 Harris FWD Speedster.It was sent special invitation to be present at a show, amazing that it won best of show at 17 years of age.His son lives in Arizona now, he said that trophy was one of many, and it was about 4 foot tall.

Right after that, it was invited to a show in Chicago, somewhere in-between, another picture was taken, it appears to be Marylyn Monroe in the Speedster.

In early 1954, Ben and Jim Kimberly were used for racing coverage of the first edition of " Sports Illustrated";

He associated with quite the racy crowd !!!!Thanks for the help guys, figured that the experts herein, would nail it down.

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